NEARLY 500 runners, walkers and cyclists celebrated 10 years of a Cross Bay fundraising event by raising more than £20,000 for South Lakeland charity CancerCare.

Participants taking part in the 10th anniversary Cross Bay Challenge – organised by Kendal-based CancerCare - took part in either a half marathon, a family friendly seven mile walk and new for 2015, a Fat Bike cycle event.

One of the toughest courses in the country and the only known tidal race in the world, the Cross Bay Half Marathon drew nearly 300 competitors from across the UK and beyond.

Lewis Banton, 37, from Clowne in Derbyshire, completed the course in a winning time of 1-22-12 followed by Luke Beresford, 32, from Rippley, in 1-25-15. Caroline Baxter, 23, from Lancaster, won the ladies' race in 1-33-01. This year's veteran category winners were Philip Lowery, 51, (1-30-24) from Carnforth, and Vicky Murphy, 45, who finished in 1-51-57.

Irene Frezzini, 40, travelled from Pisa in Italy to take part after reading about the event and said: “I wanted to come over especially for this event as it sounded very unique. I enjoyed it very much!”

New for 2015 was a Fat Bike cycle event with Phil Morgan, 39, from Carnforth, first to cross the finish line.

A family-friendly seven-mile walk offered a gentler alternative to the day with 200 participants making the journey out across the Bay from the Flookburgh foreshore towards Cowpren Point near Ulverston, led by a team of expert Bay guides.

Marek Bieganowski aged 40 from Carnforth said: “I suffered from Melanoma in 2012 which made a nasty and unexpected return in 2013. I was one of the lucky ones and caught it early enough to be treated. The whole experience was a shock and we both used the services of CancerCare to help us through it.

"We took part in the walk because we wanted to give something back and to say thank you for the help and support. I really enjoyed crossing the rivers, seeing some giant jellyfish and the stunning views all around – a fantastic day!”

Also taking part were a team of walker from Silverdale who all lived on the same street and a team of staff from Lakeland Ltd, Windermere.

Jane Staniford, CancerCare Senior Fundraiser and event organiser, said: “It turned out to be an incredible afternoon despite the damp start to the day – a huge thank you to all our volunteers who helped to set up the event in the pouring rain in the morning.”